Arbitrary file write via symlink-following external-data path
Published Aug 21, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026
Path traversal in ONNX before 1.21.0 allows local users to append data to victim-writable files through crafted external-data paths. save_external_data derives a destination from the model location field, checks it non-atomically, and opens it without exclusive creation or symlink protection. Exploitation requires directory write access and a victim serialization operation, after which a planted link redirects tensor data into files writable by the victim.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in ONNX before 1.21.0 allows local users to append data to victim-writable files through crafted external-data paths. save_external_data derives a destination from the model location field, checks it non-atomically, and opens it without exclusive creation or symlink protection. Exploitation requires directory write access and a victim serialization operation, after which a planted link redirects tensor data into files writable by the victim.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-49114
- Published
- Aug 21, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 21, 2026
- Vendor
- ONNX
- Product
- ONNX
- Classifications
- CWE-22, CWE-367, CWE-59
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 21, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <1.21.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Upstream save_external_data symlink proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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